Hour 1 - The Impact of Pope Francis

Summary

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show: Hour 1 - The Impact of Pope Francis

Release Date: April 21, 2025

In this engaging and insightful episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton delve into a range of pressing topics, seamlessly weaving through the recent passing of Pope Francis, the ongoing immigration debate, and the broader implications of modern societal shifts. The hosts provide thoughtful analysis, backed by notable quotes and lively discussions, making the conversation both informative and relatable for listeners.

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1. Opening Remarks and Market Overview

[02:32] Clay Travis
Clay kicks off the show by addressing the current state of the markets, noting their rough performance and questioning whether it's time for a Federal Reserve rate cut. He references former President Trump’s impatience with Jerome Powell, setting the stage for a discussion on economic policies.

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2. The Passing of Pope Francis

[02:32] Clay Travis
The hosts shift focus to the sudden passing of Pope Francis, a significant event for over a billion Catholics worldwide. Clay highlights Pope Francis as the first Jesuit and the first Latin American pope, emphasizing his unique legacy.

[04:42] Buck Sexton
Buck shares a personal anecdote about visiting the Vatican, illustrating his appreciation for the Catholic Church’s grandeur despite not being raised within the faith. He admits limited knowledge but recognizes the Vatican’s global influence and the intricate process of selecting a new pope.

[05:38] Buck Sexton
Buck discusses Pope Francis’s policies, noting his traditional stances on priestly celibacy, abortion, and opposition to the trans agenda, while also acknowledging his progressive views on climate change and social justice. He expresses disagreement with some of the Pope’s positions, particularly on open borders, yet appreciates the balance between tradition and modernity that Pope Francis maintained.

Notable Quote:
[09:37] Buck Sexton:
"I think there is an increasing search for meaning and I think that certainly is translating with young men."

Buck connects the Pope’s emphasis on purpose and community to a broader cultural critique of self-obsession, arguing that true happiness stems from caring about others and contributing to the greater good.

[16:14] Clay Travis
Clay expands on the idea of purpose, contrasting it with the prevalent self-obsession in today’s culture. He critiques social justice movements for providing superficial satisfaction without fostering genuine discipline or effort. Instead, he advocates for personal responsibility and community involvement as pathways to lasting happiness.

Notable Quote:
[16:14] Clay Travis:
"A focus on the self and the deep and really malignant narcissism. That is, I think, really a defining characteristic of culture for young people today."

Clay highlights the role of the Catholic Church in providing a sense of purpose and community, emphasizing the importance of faith-based actions over fleeting social media trends.

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3. Immigration and Deportation: The Case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

[02:32] Clay Travis
Transitioning to immigration, Clay discusses the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, portraying him as a symbol of Democratic immigration policies. He criticizes the Democrats for making Garcia a focal point in their immigration narrative, questioning his credibility and motives.

[24:09] Clay Travis:
"They have decided that America is an idea. No, America is actually people. It is 340 million people who are supposed to be here who live in a place known as America."

[30:11] Clay Travis
Clay elaborates on the challenges of deporting illegal immigrants, citing the Biden administration’s policies that have allowed millions to enter the U.S. over four years. He argues that the current legal and bureaucratic barriers make it nearly impossible to deport these individuals swiftly, thereby undermining national sovereignty and the rule of law.

[34:49] Clay Travis:
"The number of illegals who have come into the country, and particularly those who have come in under Biden. This is a national emergency because we have seen the serial violations of our sovereignty to such a degree that it has eroded faith in the rule of law."

[38:18] Clay Travis
Clay differentiates between individuals deported after apprehension and those merely turned away at the border, emphasizing that the latter often return or attempt to re-enter, perpetuating the issue.

Notable Quote:
[37:04] Buck Sexton:
"The Garcia fellow is the front facing aspect of this. But make no mistake, they are desperately trying to stop Trump from sending out people who were illegally here."

Clay and Buck express frustration with the Democratic Party’s handling of immigration, suggesting that their policies are unsustainable and detrimental to American society. They call for legislative action to streamline deportation processes and prevent further illegal immigration.

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4. Cultural Shifts and Traditional Values

[09:37] Buck Sexton
Buck touches on the decline of traditional family structures, linking it to broader societal dissatisfaction. He discusses his forthcoming book on Trump’s appeal to young men, attributing it to a search for meaning beyond political affiliations.

[12:54] Clay Travis:
Clay reinforces the importance of purpose, arguing that modern conveniences and superficial pleasures lead to deeper unhappiness. He contrasts this with the fulfillment derived from family, faith, and community service.

[16:14] Clay Travis:
"Whether you're 20 or 80, I think purpose is the thing that leads to more lasting, real happiness in a deep, philosophical sense."

This segment underscores the hosts’ belief in traditional values as a foundation for personal and societal well-being, advocating for a return to community-oriented and faith-based living.

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5. Political Landscape and Future Implications

[24:09] Clay Travis:
Clay critiques the Democratic approach to immigration, suggesting that their inability to control the border effectively leads to long-term issues. He warns of future implications if the party gains the presidency in 2028, predicting a continuation and exacerbation of current immigration problems.

[34:49] Clay Travis:
"This is an emergency. The number of illegals who have come into the country... has eroded faith in the rule of law."

Clay and Buck discuss the political strategies surrounding immigration, including the use of high-profile cases like Garcia’s to galvanize their base. They express concern over potential legislative hurdles, such as the filibuster, which could impede necessary reforms.

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6. Reflections and Conclusion

[36:13] Clay Travis:
Clay reflects on the philosophical underpinnings of American identity, emphasizing that America is defined by its people and principles rather than just its geography. He calls for a reevaluation of immigration policies to restore faith in the rule of law and national sovereignty.

[38:50] Buck Sexton:
Buck poses a critical question about the actual number of illegal immigrants in the country, highlighting the discrepancy between official figures and public perception. He engages the audience by inviting them to estimate the number, fostering interactive and critical thinking about the issue.

[46:07] Buck Sexton:
In discussing the Garcia case, Buck highlights media bias and the lack of accountability, criticizing the narrative constructed by mainstream media outlets.

[47:35] Xumo Marketing Team:
A brief mention as the conversation moves towards integrating advertisements back into the summary.

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Key Takeaways

• Legacy of Pope Francis: The hosts reflect on Pope Francis’s impact, balancing his traditional and progressive stances, and contemplating the future direction of the Catholic Church.

• Immigration Debate: A critical examination of Democratic immigration policies, focusing on the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia as a symbol of broader systemic issues.

• Cultural Critique: Discussion on the decline of traditional values and the search for purpose in an increasingly self-obsessed and convenience-driven society.

• Political Implications: Concerns about future immigration policy under Democratic leadership and the potential erosion of the rule of law.

• Call to Action: Advocacy for legislative reforms to address immigration challenges, emphasizing the need for accountability and effective governance.

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Notable Quotes

• Buck Sexton [09:37]:
  "There is an increasing search for meaning and I think that certainly is translating with young men."

• Clay Travis [16:14]:
  "A focus on the self and the deep and really malignant narcissism. That is, I think, really a defining characteristic of culture for young people today."

• Clay Travis [24:09]:
  "They have decided that America is an idea. No, America is actually people."

• Clay Travis [34:49]:
  "This is a national emergency because we have seen the serial violations of our sovereignty to such a degree that it has eroded faith in the rule of law."

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Conclusion

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show masterfully navigates through complex and emotionally charged topics, providing listeners with a nuanced perspective on significant issues. From the profound loss of a global religious leader to the contentious debates surrounding immigration policy, Clay and Buck offer a blend of personal insight, critical analysis, and passionate discourse. Their ability to intertwine these discussions with broader cultural and political contexts makes this episode a compelling listen for anyone seeking to understand the multifaceted challenges facing contemporary society.

Transcript

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[Clay Travis]

Monday edition of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton show kicks off right now. Markets little look a little rough this morning. We'll discuss this. Is it time for a rate cut at the Fed? Trump certainly thinks so. He's losing patience with Jerome Powell. Obviously, the biggest news story today. We will dive into it shortly. Here is the passing of Pope Francis. We got billions of Catholics around the world very, very much dialed into the legacy, the life and legacy of Pope Francis. So we shall discuss some of that. J.D. vance just met with him on Sunday. So it does seem a bit sudden that all of a sudden, the Pope is no more. They're gonna have to elect a new one. The conclave's gonna get together. The smoke's gonna have to come out of the chimney, all that stuff. So we shall discuss that. The first Jesuit Pope, which is, I think, interesting, and the first Latin American pope. Those are the two standouts, at least in terms of his bio. We can talk about some of his policies and some of his. Well, some of what he stood for, some of what he said coming up here. We've got updates on immigration and deportation, specifically, Democrats still making Kilmar Abrego Garcia, one of their great causes. Someone they are very concerned with returning to the United States so that we can deport him again. Just want to be clear. I don't think anyone believes that that is not what the end state of the. Of the legal system would be. But we got to bring him back so we can deport him the right way, they say. Is he a member of Ms. 13? Yeah, but maybe they'll say he's not. Depends on the day. Uh, so we have more on that for all of you. Also, Clay, I thought this was interesting. There's reporting in the Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration is considering different ways to encourage having kids. A pro. I guess it's a pro natalism policy, having more babies they want. Trump wants more babies, probably as many babies as we can have.

[Buck Sexton]

So, you know, certainly Elon's doing his best to help out there.

[Clay Travis]

Elon is. Is a. You could say he's a pioneer. I'm not sure everybody would agree with the way he's doing it, but you could say he's a pioneer in the natalism world. In the pro. He's definitely pro baby making. That part of it we could all agree on. But, Clay, I was thinking about this this morning. I think nationwide, about 20%. Oh, wait, sorry, before we get into that. And they're going after Pete Hegseth again. They really want. They really want that Sec Def. Scalp the media. It's not going to happen. It's a lot retread of old stories and everything else. They're not going to get it. But you can tell they're really turning up the heat on him more than anyone else in the administration, which I think for a lot of us indicates. Well, that means we definitely want him to stay. That means he's shaking things up in a way that makes the bad people uncomfortable. But. Okay. Now the Pope. Let's get into clay. What are you a Methodist or something? A Southern Baptist. What are you?

[Buck Sexton]

Southern Baptist? So. So, yeah, I was not a Pope aficionado growing up. Didn't know a lot about the Pope. But you'll remember a couple of years ago, and it was one of the most awesome trips of. Of my life. I got to go, I took my kids and we went to Rome and we toured the Vatican. And we got to experience what it is like the pomp, the circumstance, the majesty that surrounds everything having to do with the Catholic chur. I was not raised in the Catholic Church and don't have a ton of experience other than going to a few funerals, a few weddings that are in the Catholic faith. But I certainly appreciate the impact and the power, like I said, of the Vatican and know and follow as a news story the selection of the new Pope and find it to be very intriguing in the way that it takes place with the white smoke and the papal enclaves and everything else, conclaves and everything else that's associated with it. You are the expert, however, on the selection of the next pope as it pertains to.

[Clay Travis]

Very generous.

[Buck Sexton]

The expert of this show may not be a high standard, but the expert I'm not gonna.

[Clay Travis]

There's a lot of you listening who know a lot more about this Pope and about the latest things going on within the church. Compared to me, I went to Jesuit school and he was a Jesuit of the Society of Jesus of that order and the first one ever to become Pope, which is interesting. As I said, he's Argentine or I never know if it's Argentine or Argentinian, but we'll just go with Argentinian. He's Argentinian by birth. The interesting things about this Pope, I mean, one is he on some things that matter very much. And I want to expand this discussion out so it's not just about. Because for a lot of people, if you're a practicing Catholic, the Pope is obviously the head of the church, very important, vicar of Christ here on Earth, Lord's pontiff, all that stuff. But there's also bigger issues that he was addressing that I think had a lot of impact. We have about a billion and a half Catholics around the world, so there's a lot of Catholics. I know many of you listening are of different. Protestant. I'd say we. What do you think? I would guess this is what I was going to say before. I would think our audience is a little more Catholic than the, than the nation overall. I would say it's probably more like 30% of our listeners are Catholic. I would guess 20%, I think, is the national number. I would say we're probably more like 30% here. You know, I don't think we have quite as many like far left atheist types listening. So, you know, you're going to have more, you gotta have more people who are Christian of religious faith. So then a much bigger denominator or a much bigger chunk I think would be Protestant. But anyway, Clay, I mean, here's where it came down for a lot of people. This is a Pope who did not allow priests to marry, did not move on the issue of abortion and still was ardently pro life, did not have any policies particularly that advance, like the trans agenda. So there were some areas where he was a traditionalist. The problem is he was a big climate change guy and he was somebody who spoke a lot about social justice, but also in the context of being effectively open borders. And I just, I don't agree with that. Now, he wasn't speaking ex cathedra on those issues, which means it's not considered church doctrine. It's not from, from God through the Pope to his, to his flock. But I didn't agree on those things. So there's some, there's some stuff that I liked. And you know, there's a big move toward more traditional Christianity and traditional Catholicism more specifically in this country. Clay, right now, as people have realized, a lot of the secular left wing stuff is a bridge to nowhere.

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah. I think there is a increasing search for meaning and I think that certainly is translating with young men. I just finished the first draft of the book that I'm writing about why Trump was able to have such success with young men and why that has continued and why the Republican Party is having such success with young men. I think a lot of young men, and increasingly young women too, are aware that they have been sold something that is untrue. That is. And again, anytime we talk about this People are because they don't have this particular lifestyle. Well, I'll just say it. I mean, you just had a baby. The best possible formation for raising children is husband and wife, nuclear family. And one of those individuals is able to be the primary caregiver. That is a reason that has endured for thousands and thousands of years. That doesn't mean that some of you out there can't both have fabulous jobs and there can't be daycare and there can't be parents and I mean grandparents and aunts and uncles and brothers and sisters and all these other different individuals that are involved in raising kids. It is incredibly important, I think, a lot of what has been sold to women in particular, and I'm fired up on this because I just finished writing this section of my book. But to women in particular. If you went back in time, buck, to the 1960s and you told a single young man, hey, what's the world that you would most like to embody to find in the world? I think you would probably hear that single young man describe the lifestyle that exists now for men. That is women's empowerment. And this is going to get people riled up, too. But to a large extent, women's empowerment, I think, has actually given men everything they wanted. And think about it for a minute now, for young men, you have never had to work less in order to have access to tons of pretty girls. You don't even have to take them out on dates. Now you can send 20 different text messages of you up. And this is the reality of the world that exists now. If you're 16 to, you know, 35 and you're single out there, and Buck, you just went through it now you're married. But I think a lot of women and men are not coming together. They're not getting married, they're not having children. And we are learning that trying to make women more like men and men more like women actually means that everybody doesn't like each other as much as they otherwise would. They like the sexes to be different. And this idea that you can be any gender or babies, sometimes doctors get babies wrong. I think you're seeing a profound repudiation of this era. And I wonder the reflection of who they are going to select as the next pope. It's fine to be in some way welcoming of difference, but at some point in time, you do need to recognize that there is traditional value in the decisions that have been made for thousands of years. And I see that all kind of coming together in terms of the decision they make. As to who the next Pope is.

[Clay Travis]

I think one thing that is true, irrespective of time or culture or anything else, is that for human happiness to flourish, you actually need to care about something more than you care about yourself. That a focus on the self and the deep and really malignant narcissism. That is, I think, really a defining characteristic of culture for young people today. Maybe it has been for a long. A longer time than that, but the self obsession with what I want, what I need, when I want it, is. Is just a pathway to unhappiness, I think, in the. In the long run and maybe even in the short run. And I think that when people look to things like family and faith and. And what really matters and causes beyond themselves, that they can actually impact or affect, which is a very important. This is where I, you know, this is. Pope was very into social justice. I think social justice for a lot of people and the causes, including things like climate change that go under that clay is off often a. An easy way out for people, because saying that you, you know, you want equal pay, or saying that you stand for climate change or Ukraine or the. Or, you know, FAUCI or whatever it is, whatever your new quasi religion is of the moment, that's easy and can make people in the short term feel good about themselves. But it's empty because it requires no discipline and no effort, and there's nothing that you're really doing. Whereas helping somebody in your family or helping somebody in your community who really is in a desperate situation, taking action that sacrifices your own immediate comforts and interests for other people, and doing that on a daily basis, tending to your own flock, those around you, that I think is a far more tried and true way to achieve purpose, which is really what our modern culture, because we live lives generally Clay have so much convenience. Every food is delicious, entertainment is everywhere. You know, sex has been cheapened and easy for most people to get or, you know, or they just do only fans or what. All this stuff, all the endorphin and serotonin rush that people are constantly chasing, I think what they really want is purpose. And whether you're 20 or 80, I think purpose is the thing that leads to more lasting, real happiness in a deep, philosophical sense. And I think that that's the role that the Catholic Church plays for bringing it full circle for a lot of people, their relationship with God, those who believe in Christ and his resurrection. We just had Easter. Happy Easter to all of you who celebrate. I think that this is a moment for people who, even if you're not a Catholic, even if you're not a Christian, there can be reflection on this, but certainly for Catholics and Christians, what are we all doing to live the faith that we profess and to actually take what we know about a good life and put it into action? Because we live in a social media hashtag. No one uses hashtags anymore. But you know, we live in a selfie, Uber eats, Netflix, quick, fast and easy culture. And I think that's a big park clay of what leads to so much unhappiness.

[Buck Sexton]

I also think to your point, if people don't have a larger purpose, they will find it. And sometimes they find it in politics, which I think has happened on the left in particular. A lot of these, in my opinion, women who would otherwise have been raising families have decided that the Democrat party is the family they don't otherwise have. And I think there's a profound sadness there, honestly, that that is where you would choose to find your sense of purpose is entirely in the political realm and entirely with one political party. But deep thoughts to start off a Monday morning as we are coming out of the Easter holiday and as the Pope, who I think it's kind of fair to say shockingly has passed because he was just public yesterday and there seemed to be some idea that he had come through the worst of his health related conditions when it seemed like he might pass. And then he's public yesterday and then, and then overnight he, he passed. Still a tense time for those living in Israel. We're just talking about coming out of Easter in the Holy Week, 18 months after the Hamas terrorist attack. The threat of another missile attack by one of the big enemies over there, Hezbollah, Hamas or the Houthis, is still very real. For every effort there is to lead a normal life, there's a reminder. Missile attacks can occur at any given moment. That's why we're partnering with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews to help provide life saving aid and security essentials. Your urgently needed gift today will help provide security essentials like bomb shelters, flak jackets, bulletproof vests. They will help first responders with armored security vehicles, ambulances and much more. I've seen all the incredible work these guys do and I encourage you to join us in helping to support them and stand with Israel. Call now to make your gift. 888-488 IFCJ. That's 888488-4325. You can also go online to supportifcj.org to give that website again, supportifcj.org you ain't imagining it. The world has gone insane. Reclaim your sanity with Clay and Buck. Find them on the free iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Clay Travis]

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[Clay Travis]

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[Buck Sexton]

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[Clay Travis]

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[Clay Travis]

I think it's part of it at least is the frustration that they have that they went all in and this was they thought the first domino to fall. This was the first scalp they would get. And they really didn't get close. Trump was like, this is my guy. And he's come out again and said this is still my guy. Pete is great. He is my secretary of defense. But you know how it is. They, they are, they're bitter about this now. Now they want to go in even more and try to remove this guy.

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah. And Hegseth was just there having the White House Easter roll on with Trump and the Easter bunny and everything else. And quickly here, here's Pete Hegseth. We'll react a bit to this as well.

[H]

What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax. Won't get back their Pulitzers. They got Pulitzers for a bunch of lies. Pulitzers for a bunch of lies. And on hoaxes time and time and time again. And as they pedal those lies, no one ever calls them on it. See, this is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. Not going to work with me because we're changing the Defense Department. Putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters. And anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news. Doesn't matter.

[Clay Travis]

Yeah, I think he's put this one to bed. They didn't even put a scratch on him this time. So, but I like the, what were the tunes in the background there? They had like a brass band playing. Where was it?

[Buck Sexton]

I mean, that's a, that's an Easter egg roll. It's evidently a fun thing.

[Clay Travis]

All they need is a flute player and they're good to go. Switch your cell phone service to Pure Talk. Get the lowest priced, excellent Quirely wireless service available today. You'll start by saving 50 bucks or more every month. And when you switch to Pure Talk Remember, you keep your phone and your number. I'm on Pure Talk. I've been with them for years. They are fantastic. My primary cell phone is a Pure Talk cell phone. Right now with a qualifying Pure Talk plan, you can get the brand new Samsung Galaxy A26 for free with sturdy Gorilla glass and next generation camera lenses, which you need because my wife always says my camera's not good enough. Clay, do you know you have to wipe camera lens? I don't even know about this stuff. You got to wipe the camera lens apparently, or else my photos come out blurry. Look, sign up with Pure Talk. Get Unlimited Talk text, 15 gigs of data with mobile hotspot for just $35 a month. Dial pound250. Say the keywords Clay and Buck. Pure Talk's US customer service team will be ready to help you. Switch from your phone. Now dial pound two five zero. Say Clay and Buck. Welcome back into Clay and Buck. There are two losses that a lot of people are focused on right now. One is the loss of Pope Francis, who we discuss. And by the way, I'll take some of your calls and talk backs on this at the. At the back of this hour. So if you want to talk about the Pope at all, what he meant to you, or if you disagree, as a Catholic, I know he was very anti the Latin Mass. I would actually, as a. I'm coming back to it. I will tell you, I always want to be very honest with this audience. You know, my. I was raised quite Catholic in terms of the practice, right. Going everything, all the sacraments, Jesuits. I went to Catholic school and then Jesuit high school, and then I went to Amherst, which was communist, which actually made me more. I was one of the few people I remember seeing Justice Scalia's daughter. There was like a. On campus church service. There are very few of us. I'm like, ah, like she's here, you know, she's cool. There are very few of us, though, who would go to church on campus. I was one of them. And I, I want to get back to it now that I'm a father and I think more about the future of my family and also, you know, the future, like eternity and everlasting life, all that. So I'm trying to get back to it. I'll be honest with you. I'm. I'm somebody who has, you know, my mother is very devout and so I. She's probably listening, Mom, I'm working on it. I'm working on it. I bring this up, Clay, just because I do think I have feelings on. I still have feelings on all this. Right. I don't claim to be an expert, but I have feelings on it all. I think the Latin Mass would be really, really meaningful to a lot of people. I think that the traditions of the church are in so many ways the strength of the church and the. Anyway, that's my. That's my feeling. I think liberalizing it. No, no, no. Actually not a good idea. I think some of the liberal stuff that's going on with the church has been a bad idea. That all said, that's one loss, the loss of Pope Francis. The other loss that the media is giving a lot of attention to, not quite as much as the Pope today, because that just happened. But Clay, the loss from America of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

[Buck Sexton]

Yes.

[Clay Travis]

A very different Latin American fellow than Pope Francis, and he is somebody that they have really decided to make the symbol of Trump resistance right now. Very interesting to me. They haven't gone all in. I mean, the Institutional Democrat apparatus is not all in on Carmelo Anthony and the stabbing case and all this. They've. That's online. You'll see that. And there's some activists, local activists. But I think the mainstream Democrat Party realizes that this is not going to go well for them. If they really get too into this, I think maybe I'm wrong. They could turn it into another O.J. you know, celebrated case. We'll talk about that. But they've really gone all in on Abrego Garcia. And here is Senator Van Hollen Clay from Maryland talking about this meeting with this guy, play 15.

[I]

He said he was not afraid of the other prisoners in his immediate cell, but that he was traumatized by being at seacot and fearful of many of the prisoners in other cell blocks who called out to him and taunted him in various ways. His conversation with me was the first communication he'd had with anybody outside a prison since he was abducted. He said he felt very sad about being in a prison because he had not committed any crimes.

[Clay Travis]

Clay, you know, people pointed out. I know, I know. Yeah, like a lot. He's like a lost puppy. People have pointed out. He didn't even ask, apparently, or wouldn't give an answer. Is he a member of Ms. 13? Yes or no. Is he a part of this?

[Buck Sexton]

Did he beat his wife? She said he did. I mean, that seems kind of significant to me, too. I think we played the team. Can remind me if we played it or not. I know I shared it on social. When you get grilled by Michael Strahan on Good Morning America. And you can't answer a basic question of whether she was fearful of him. This is. So let's talk about the Garcia we said, told you months ago this was what their focus was gonna be. They were gonna find one person who was deported. They were gonna decide to make him the front facing example of how unfair deportations were. But I do think and they picked a poor example, right? An alleged wife beater, someone who was accused of human smuggling pulled over in Tennessee. The Biden FBI said, hey, let him go. Someone who has what appears to be Ms. 13 gang signed on his knuckles. If you looked at the picture that Donald Trump shared, the location of his arrest, the people that he was consorting with at the time of the arrest, all of these things make him not a particularly the fact that he's here illegally and no one disputes it. All these things make him not a particularly sympathetic plaintiff, as we would say, or forward facing client in this respect. But here is what's really going on. What we're really seeing is Biden let in around 10 million illegals in four years. And we've had conversations about this. Buck, I remember during the election saying I thought that Trump could shut down the southern border. The challenge was going to be deporting massive amounts of illegals. And I was talking with some people over the weekend and on a pace right now, Trump is going to be able to deport about 350,000 people. Okay? That means that it would take around 30 years of doing this same pace to just deport the people that Biden let in in the last four years. If you open the floodgates and allow everybody in and you don't have a mechanism by which the president can then deport massive amounts of people as well, then effectively the Democrats win. And that is I think what their calculus was all long Buck. I think they made the choice. Once we let these people in, given the laws and given the roadblocks we can put up to any deportation process, it's going to become virtually impossible to ever get these people out. And this presumes that we even have a president who wants to shut down the southern border. Because the lesson here is if they win in 2028, they'll probably wide open the southern border again and we'll have millions more people coming in. I was reading this morning their interviews with people who have decided not to come into the United States where they said, hey, we just have to wait for another Democrat president to be able to do this again and you'll Remember, as soon as Biden was elected, those caravans started in massive numbers. So what Trump is trying to do. Wait, caravans play.

[Clay Travis]

They were literally showing up with Biden T shirts.

[Buck Sexton]

Yes.

[Clay Travis]

And they were asked by reporters, hey, why are you here? Because of Biden.

[Buck Sexton]

They were telling us, yes, because Biden wants us to come. Was even some of the answers, because that was the way it was being told. So my point on this is we're having a now legal battle over whether Trump can expansively define illegal immigration and use that under hundreds of year old laws to be able to deport people rapidly. We need Congress to act in this respect to make it easier for people to be deported. The challenge is, I suspect, that Democrats would in many respects throw up the filibuster, which, remember, they claimed was racist and antiquated and didn't need to exist anymore. Now suddenly they're going to use it abundantly against Trump in the Senate because they only have 47 seats. And so the Supreme Court over the weekend to me, stepped in and issued a stop order on the deportation of these violent criminals. And I think they did it in a, in a mechanism that suggests that they may well restrict Trump's ability to be able to rapidly deport people, which means these millions of illegals are essentially here to stay.

[Clay Travis]

We just come back to this philosophical, this philosophical reckoning that I think a lot of Americans have had. You cannot look at us and say the rule of law, the Constitution, due process, only matters to prevent people from being told to leave. Does not matter. Despite all of the laws, when it comes to, they are arriving and they are staying in violation of laws. Right. This can't be a one way street situation or else we don't really have a country anymore. And I think that this is also where this should be thought. This is an emergency. The number of illegals who have come into the country, and particularly those who have come in under Biden. This is a national emergency because we have seen the serial violations of our sovereignty to such a degree that it has eroded faith in the rule of law. This is an enormous burden on the taxpayer, an enormous burden on our social and political fabric. I mean, are these, do they speak English? Are they Americans? What makes them Americans? Some of them have been here for a year or two. Well, some people study abroad. If I, if I study abroad in Australia, am I, am I an Aussie all of a sudden, by the way, at least there I would speak the language. What if I studied abroad in Tokyo and said, you know what, guys, I'm as Japanese as all of you, I'd be laughed at.

[Buck Sexton]

Yes.

[Clay Travis]

But yet in this country, the Democrat Party has decided that America is an idea. No, America is actually people. It is 340 million people who are supposed to be here who live in a place known as America. But it is actually us. It's not just a land mass. This is not just a real estate transaction that we're discussing. And Clay, I think that's where the, the reckoning comes from. That's where people are just saying, hold on a second. So are we supposed to have multiple tiers, multiple levels of review and jury trial and more review for every person who's come here illegally? The whole system, they've overwhelmed the system. They have flooded the system intentionally and now you're going to say, well, the system requires X or Y. No, the system requires, this is an emergency. People have to be told to go home and made to go home. This is not their home.

[Buck Sexton]

And that is what the real battle is. The Garcia fellow is the front facing aspect of this. But make no mistake, they are desperately trying to stop Trump from sending out people who were illegally here. And there's lots of numbers floating around. We should probably get Stephen Miller on again because he's the expert on this, to be able to just give us the facts. But you'll see a lot of things on social media about how many people were deported and deporters in chief. A lot of times, Buck, they were counting. I was diving into this. They were counting people who were turned away at the border as being, as deportations.

[Clay Travis]

Yes, I know. They didn't. They started that under Obama to create the impression that he was the deporter in chief so that he would have more political capital to try to swindle Republicans with the Gang of Eight bill, remember the Senate Gang of Eight into an amnesty. It was, oh, look, Obama's serious about border security. Look at the numbers. The numbers were all fudged. The numbers were fake. It was a joke.

[Buck Sexton]

In other words, it's important for you guys to think about the difference between people here that are taken internally and flown out and people who are stopped at the border. Many of those numbers out there, they're counting people stopped at the border as being deported, which is not really the same thing.

[Clay Travis]

It's not, it's, it's really a turnaway. And beyond that, Clay, a lot of the people who are stopped at the border and deported, you know what happens? They just go west or they go east and they cross again.

[Buck Sexton]

Right.

[Clay Travis]

So, so you people think, oh, problem solved. Look at all these. Not problems solved, but problem getting better. Looking at these numbers. No, they just, if you're turned right back around. A lot of these people have paid the, you know, they've paid the cartel coyotes. They've done the human trafficking. You know, they've been a part of that human trafficking pipeline and they're just going to find another place to try to cross and the next time they'll probably get through.

[Buck Sexton]

Here's a question for you. Well, I'll get your answer. On the flip side, what do you think the actual number of illegals in the country as we are speaking today is? I want to get your. Now I'm curious what your number would be. I've got one that I've got jotted down on the, on my page. I won't tell you what it is. We'll see what our numbers are and see how close our numbers will be.

[Clay Travis]

Like rock, paper, scissors. We'll just go right the same time here.

[Buck Sexton]

It'll be like the, the, the, the, the. Well, we don't know the full number, but it's like the price is right when everybody has to bid on what they think the number is. I'll let the crew in studio, New York City. You guys also jot down on a piece of paper what you think the actual number of illegal immigrants is as we speak right now. Look, over the weekend a lot of people dove into golf. A lot of golf going on Easter weekend. Lots of time with family. NHL playoffs are underway. NBA playoffs are underway. Major League Baseball was on in the Travis household as the Atlanta Braves finally won some games. And if you're a diehard sports fan like I am, like Rush was, you may well want to get hooked up right now with prize picks. Best way to have fun with Sports. More than 30 states, California, Texas, Georgia included. If you've been feeling left out, withdrawals fast, safe and secure. You can deposit very easily as well. And you get fifty dollars instantly after you play your first five dollars by going to prizepix.com code clay fifty dollars instantly after you pay. Play your first five dollar lineup that is prizepix.com code Clay get signed up all over the country. Thirteen million people playing prizepix.com Code Clay prize picks run your game. Get fifty dollars when you go to pricepicks.com Code Clay right now, Clay, Travis and Buck Sexton telling it like it is. Find them on the free iHeartrad radio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Clay Travis]

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[Buck Sexton]

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[Buck Sexton]

Your TV is.

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[Buck Sexton]

Welcome back in Clay Travis Buck Sexton show. Maybe a lot of you. Some of you a little bit dragging after a big Easter weekend. Lots of activities. You may want to be consuming the best coffee in America that is run by a lot of people who think America is the greatest country that has ever existed in the history of the world. And it's named after an American hero, Davy Crockett. Crockett coffee.com use code book right now and you can get hooked up with an autographed copy of my book. All you have to do is go to crockett coffee.com click subscribe and there'll be an autographed copy of the book on the way to you. Appreciate all of you who are signing up in big numbers. I wanted to play this. I mentioned that a minute ago. The wife of the El Salvador gang member Abreu Garcia is was on Good Morning America. I believe this was on Friday morning Buck and she was interviewed by former NFL star Michael Strahan. Michael Strahan's had an incredible media career. Really talented guy does a lot in addition to the fact that he came out of the world of football. But to the credit of Good Morning America they had Michael Strahan who a lot of times doesn't do serious news interview ask a pretty important question. Why did the wife accuse her husband who is now in an El Salvador prison of domestic abuse and did she fear him? I want you to listen to that conversation that happened on Friday. Good Morning America. I know this is a sensitive question, but I have to ask it. You did take out a temporary order of protection against your husband in 2021.

[Clay Travis]

Were you in fear of your husband?

[Thrivent Marketing Team]

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[Clay Travis]

Okay, then, you know, I'm not going to push on that.

[Buck Sexton]

Okay. I actually think he should have pushed on it a little bit. But the fact that he asked the question that. Silence. Buck, if you are asked if you are in fear of your husband and you don't answer for 20 seconds or 15 seconds, however long that pause was, you're in fear of your husband. I'm sorry, I. I can't imagine very many wives out there ask that question, would sit there in silence and then not really answer it at all. She may well fear the gang also, which still has a lot of members in the United States, unfortunately, Mississippi, 13. But I do think that's an important clip that we just played for you that everybody should be watching if they're trying to make this Abreu Garcia guy into somehow of a hero.

[Clay Travis]

We also promised that we would give our number here, Clay. So we got to. We got to keep our promise of illegals.

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah. Oh, yes, totally. I forgot. I got. My number is written down on this yellow legal pad right here.

[Clay Travis]

All right, I'm ready. Three, two, one. Hold it up. What have you got?

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah, I got. For people who can't see, I've got 25 million. Buck has 30 million. Split the difference. 27 and a half. In Nashville. In Nashville, in New York City, studio there. Anybody have a number that is drastically different than the one we shared? Much lower. 11 million. What?

[Xumo Marketing Team]

11?

[Buck Sexton]

Biden let in 11 million. Do a little research, Producer Ali. I mean, I don't know. I don't know. Is she a. Is she a plant? Buck, did the Biden administration get her in here to try to downplay illegal immigration?

[Thrivent Marketing Team]

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[Buck Sexton]

Never mind. Oh, wow. We're gonna have to put up producer Alley on the hot seat. We come back. But it is a question. We'll talk about this a little bit more. What is the actual number of illegal immigrants in the country? And why is it so difficult to even get a fair accounting? We'll talk about that more next.

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[J]

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